Is Sebastien Bassong about to leave Norwich City (Picture: Getty Images)

The sound of beeps echoing across the fields of Colney has officially signalled the start of a new Norwich City era. The Neil Adams era.

Much has been written, spoken and posted in the last month on the board’s decision to appoint Adams but finally the pontificating can end and now the action can begin. Time to walk the walk.

As ever, the squad assembled for the opening days of pre-season training will be nothing like the one that kicks-off the new season. Plenty of comings and goings will occur in the intervening five weeks, with some big names highly likely to be on their proverbial before City’s opener at Molineux.

While it’s important to not read too much into a shirt number, yesterday’s unveiling for the new season told a story or two:

Sebastien Bassong. Shirt number 2013/14: ‘5‘, 2014/15: ‘30‘

Ricky van Wolfswinkel. 2013/14: ‘9‘, 2014/15: ‘20‘

Andrew Surman. 2013/14: no squad number, 2014/15: ‘29‘

While the latter, in truth, is merely reflective of Surman being on loan last season at Bournemouth, the part of me that wants to see him pulling the strings in the centre of City’s midfield this season remains hopeful it reflects the manager’s desire to play him.

Straw clutching perhaps, and I may be in a minority, but I’d love nothing more than to see the ex-Wolves man pitch up at Molineux on opening day as City’s version of Andrea Pirlo.

In terms of Bassong and his [puts on Alan Freeman voice] fall of 25 places, there is the clearest sign yet that the Cameroon international’s time in the Fine City is nearing its end. While his first season in a yellow shirt was exceptional – and earned him the Supporters’ Player of the Year award – his second was disappointing in the extreme.

I was informed by Tottenham supporters, upon his arrival at Norwich, that Bassong ‘always had a mistake in him’. After season one I was a tad perplexed by this observation, but now I get it. And they clearly didn’t mean just the one.

The love affair between Bassong and Norwich City was good while it lasted, but quickly became stale. In the words of Ollie Murs: ‘It was short. It was sweet. We tried’.

Just a shame Seb didn’t.

Van Wolswinkel’s fall from grace is not yet absolute, but his demotion to number 20 clearly struck a nerve. He tweeted: ‘Yes, i have been given number 20 I guess it’s just a number’.

While it’s no surprise that one of Adams’ new charges has been handed the number 9 shirt – Kyle Lafferty for the record – it’s impossible not to feel a little sorry for the Dutchman. Last season was undoubtedly a nightmare for him (and us) but all the right noises have been made upon his return to the fold.

I even started to believe he was being offered a chance of redemption and that he wanted to take it. To be offered said shirt must have been a blow to the solar plexus.